Despite having long spells of the play Cray Wanderers suffered another home Isthmian League Premier Division defeat as they lost out to league leaders Hornchurch at Hayes Lane on Sunday afternoon.
The Wands got off to a bright start with a series of free kicks and corners, but the visitors defence held strong against the pressure.
On their first attack The Urchins went close when Ade Yusuff had a shot saved by Shaun Rowley.
A couple minute later Hornchurch broke up field again and this time they did take the lead when George Saunders crossed from the right for Liam Nash who side footed home from six yards out to make it 1-0.
Ollie Muldoon went close soon after with a volleyed effort and Rowley saved from Tom Wriaght as Hornchurch pressed.
The visitors eventually made it 2-0 on 32 minutes when Nathan Green crossed from the left and Nash powerfully headed home. Cray tried to rally going into the break when George Porter headed Frankie Raymond’s corner over the bar and Ellis Brown shot just over after a strong run to the edge of the area, but they could find a way back.
The second half saw Cray start well again as the game developed a very physical edge with Cameron Black on the end of three heavy challenges.
Gary Lockyer had a goal rules out for offside, before they pulled a goal back when Nyren Clunis sent in a free kick from the left wing which evaded everyone and sneaked in the far post to make it 1-2.
Brown went close soon after and Raymond hit the wall from a free kick, which went out for a corner, but after that the game turned back in Hornchurhc’s favour when The Urchins were awarded a controversial penalty. Yusuff knocked the ball past Rowley in the area and went to ground with no contact at all from the home keeper, but astonishingly the Referee awarded a penalty to the visitors and booked Rowley.
Tom Wraight emphatically despatched the penalty for 3-1 and three minute later they completed the scoring when Ollie Muldoon scored with a low freekick in off the foot of the left hand post.
Cray tried to keep going with Lockyer heading a Clunis corner wide, but the visitors had the last chance of the match when Black let in Emmanuel Harvest, but then scrambled back to block his shot after he had beaten Rowley.
The defeat leaves the Wanderers one place above the bottom four ahead of next weeks trip to Potters Bar Town, who are one place below Neil Smith’s side.
Cray – Rowley, Cook, Black, Holland, Mascoll (W Wood 86), Ijaha, Raymond, Brown (Bamba 86), Clunis (Lewis 90), Lockyer, Porter. Subs Not Used: Penfold, S Wood.
Hornchurch: Henry, Green, Clark, Scott, Bertram-Cooper, Christou (Harvest 80), Saunders (Akinwande 45), Muldoon, Wraight, Nash, Yusuff. Subs Not Used: Wright, Peake, Spence.
Goals: CWFC – Clunis 65mins. HFC – Nash 23, 32, Wraight 79pen, Muldoon 82mins.
HT 0-2 FT 1-4
Ref: Lawrence Torz-Brown
Att: 324